Many car enthusiasts perk up at the sound of the name Jaguar. The iconic brand, which rose to prominence under the inspiring leadership of Sir William Lyons, has produced beautiful models and achieved success after success. Name a famous race, and Jaguar has likely participated and usually finished in the top three.

Racing was deeply rooted in the DNA of the noble British brand, and so it was in that of the XK140, which was introduced in late 1954. It was the successor to the successful XK120, which came onto the market just after the Second World War and had been developed with racing in mind. With the XK140, the focus was primarily on comfort and ease of driving, as this made the car more attractive to the American market. Three body styles were available: the roadster (or Open Two-Seater, OTS), the convertible (Drop Head Coupe, DHC), and the coupe (Fixed Head Coupe). The biggest difference between the OTS and the DHC was that the convertible top on the roadster folded away completely. The DHC was also somewhat more luxurious than the OTS, and the windshield could not be removed as it could on the roadster. The engine was placed slightly further forward compared to the XK120, which improved legroom. The finish was more luxurious and the driving characteristics better thanks to improved suspension and more modern shock absorbers. In terms of the engine, Jaguar stuck with the 3.4-liter twin-overhead six, which formed the basis for the engine used until the 90s. Power rose to 193 hp for the standard version and 213 hp for the faster version (the SE).

The XK140 we are pleased to offer is a Roadster that left the factory as an SE. It is a very early example, as the accompanying certificate from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust lists a production date of December 6, 1954. The car was delivered to the first owner, Virgil R Sousa of Massachusetts, via the well-known importer Max Hoffman in New York. He ordered the car in red with a black interior. The car still retains that color combination. The original seats have been replaced with more comfortable bucket seats, but the original ones are included with the car. The car was restored around the turn of the century, and although it is an 'older' restoration, the car is still in very beautiful condition. To make the XK better suited for rallies and touring, the current owner has made a number of modifications. For instance, electric power steering has been installed, the ignition has been modernized, the car has a more modern alternator, and the drum brakes have been replaced with disc brakes. The cooling has been improved, which is ideal for driving in the mountains. In short, this car truly offers what you need to participate in classic car drives or rallies. We cordially invite you for a meet and greet!